A dream, a dream I wished it never came to an end, I wandered through an endless corridor bathed in twilight. It was a place where time itself seemed to pause, it was a place that allowed me to see her once more.
She moved with a fluid grace, her every step brought radiance to the promised endless night. And I trailed behind, merely walking in the shadow of her grace. I sprinted across landscapes that shimmered with a silver haze, each time I thought I was close of reaching her , only to find her elusive form slipping through my grasp like mist as she was nothing but a misty memory.
Every time I thought I was on the cusp of catching her, she remained out of reach, her form fading just as my fingers stretched to touch her. Her face was a blur, a faceless image devoid of emotions, yet as the dream neared its end, she would turn to me, her gaze a beacon amidst the endless night.
She would extend her arms, an invitation to an embrace that was forever just beyond my grasp. Her unspoken words remained lost in the void, but her warmth, a radiant glow, reached out to me,
She was a star that shone equally to all, a beacon of light to the world, and for that, I was grateful that the dream came to an end
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[Why am I recalling this now? Could it be because of that cursed voice?] I pushed the thought aside; there were more pressing matters at hand.
As I studied the woman beside me, I noticed details that went unnoticed by me before, perhaps due to my previous state. I struggled to fully grasp her presence. Unlike Mirai, whose presence was like an elusive shadow—visible but intangible—this woman's felt a lot different. It was as if her presence was akin to a delicate flower, subtly perceptible yet distinctly hard to grasp.
The last detail might seem trivial, but she was quite tall—around my height, perhaps? though the comparison seemed trivial. To be certain, I moved closer and held my hand above her head, measuring her against my own.
My hand hovered just above her, and I confirmed it—she stood at 6.1 feet, while I was 6.2. My sudden realization of this small victory caused me to momentarily forget the situation at hand.
It was then that I noticed her gaze fixed on me. "What are you doing?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Embarrassed, I quickly stepped back and cleared my throat. "Nothing, nothing at all." I stammered, and quickly tried to shift the topic. "I am most truly thankful for all thou hast done for me this past week."
She smiled gently as she spoke. "Don't worry about it."
As I thought about it, I realized I didn't even know her name.
I hesitated before asking, "Couldst thou tell me thy name ?"
For a moment, she seemed taken aback. Her smile faded, and she gazed down at the ground. Realizing that I may have asked a question I shouldn't, I rushed to add, "It is well if thou dost choose not to answer." my voice cracking as I continued, "I'm sorry if I asked something I shouldn't have."
At my words, she lifted her head and met my gaze. Her voice, though distant, carried a hint of melancholy. "A name isn't such an easy thing to ask for, yet all my life, I've been known only by my title. No one has ever asked me for such thing."
Her expression softened, as a radiant smile lightened her face. Holding a red spider lily close to her heart and extending her other hand toward me, she declared, "I am the Saint of Dawn Lily, simply Lily. I have no last name. And you, who have sought the unknown, what is your name?"
I stood momentarily stunned by her sudden shift in demeanor. As I prepared to respond, the words of that cursed voice echoed in my mind. Despite the nagging doubt, I pushed it aside.
Mirroring her gesture, holding the same flower as I said, "My name is Lune, Lune Gracefell, the ruler of this forest and the sovereign of all life within. I am the ancient to whom nature abide to his will." I ended with a slight bow, holding her hand. When I looked up, her face was a blend of surprise and barely contained amusement.
[Damn him, he was right,] I thought, feeling embarrassed as I acknowledged his words.
Lily's giggles bubbled forth, soft as a melody . "Oh, forgive me," she said between giggles. "I couldn't help it. You looked so adorable, especially when you hesitated over whether to say 'Gracefell.' You were just too cute."
I quickly composed myself and offered a warm smile. "The same goes for you, beautiful lady."
Lily's smile widened, and as I released her hand, we both smiled at one another warmly. The silence that followed was not awkward but soothing one . We continued sipping our drinks, savoring the tranquil moment. However, our peace was abruptly shattered by a distant scream and the sound of someone plummeting from the sky. I didn't waste a moment as I leaped toward the lake, prepared to face any threat. As I looked I realised the source of the commotion.
" Mirai can't you just act normally? " Lily's voice resonated near me, [ I hadn't sensed her approaching at all ]
Mirai burst forth from the water, grinning mischievously. "Believe me, it's urgent. But, oh dear, Alex has been beaten black and blue for a whole week, just for you to go on vacation like this." He quickly shifted his tone, noticing Lily's change in expression. "Oh, no, no, don't worry. You absolutely deserved this vacation, especially after the light beating from last time. And especially if you didn't mention that punch to Alex."
"It's too late; I already did," I replied coldly.
Mirai's face fell, and he suddenly appeared right in front of me. Grabbing my collar, he shook me vigorously. "I've been nothing but a good teacher to you! Yes, I broke a few bones, tore some flesh, mixed concoctions, and inflicted a few burns and some rotten flesh, but I'm still the best teacher around!" His hands finally released me, and he stood proudly.
Lily and I exchanged a calm glance as Mirai cleared his throat and spoke seriously. "There's something urgent that requires your help. Make sure to come to the camp." With those final words, he vanished as if he had never been there at all.
Though I wished to learn more about Lily, I was confident our paths would cross again soon. As I prepared to leave, I turned to her and said, "Next time, I'll be the one cooking."
She smiled warmly as she replied. "I look forward to that."
Just as I was about to depart, she called out, "Wait a moment." I glanced back to see her removing her blindfold. Her eyes remained closed, but she advanced toward me with a serene grace. Noticing my confusion, she spoke softly, "Take this with you. When the time comes, you'll know what to do with it. But I want you to know…" Her face brightened with a tender smile, "I will always be here, waiting for you."
She handed me the blindfold. Unsure of how to respond , I accepted it and tucked it into the bracelet on my wrist. I smiled as Her final words resonated with me. With a flutter, I transformed into a swarm of butterflies and drifted away into the sky.
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As the swarms of butterflies fluttered away, Lily's smile remained warm and serene. Unbeknownst to Lune, a pair of blood-red eyes, hidden within his own shadow, watched him with a mixture of disgust and disdain. These eyes, however, did not reflect the same malevolence when they turned toward her. Instead, they seemed to convey pity and perhaps a trace of sadness.
A whisper suddenly echoed through the air. "He isn't worth it, and he will never be. Don't waste your time."
Lily's smile remained unshaken as she replied, "It's not for either of us to decide his worth. What's coming is a trial he must face on his own , but I will be there for him as long he wishes."
The voice responded coldly as it began to fade. "Then I'm sorry to tell you that he will fail."